England U20 vs Bath

[Epaminondas Pules]

Mark Mapletoft and Andy Titterrell have selected their first England U20 Men’s matchday squad of the 2023/24 season as their side prepares for the challenge of Bath Rugby this Saturday (6 January, 2pm kick-off).

In preparation for the upcoming 2024 U20 Six Nations, the U20 Men encounter an academy-focused Bath outfit led by head academy coach Andy Robinson at the home of Dings Crusaders, Shaftesbury Park.

Entry to see the first meeting between Bath Rugby and the pathway team is free and available on a first come, first served basis this weekend.

Saracens back-row forward Nathan Michelow has been awarded the captaincy for the friendly match in Bristol and will lead the 26-man travelling party onto the pitch of the National 2 West club.

Michelow, who played in all five 2023 U20 World Championship fixtures last summer, is complemented with eight more capped U20 players in the makeup of the team.

Forwards Craig Wright and Joe Bailey, centre pairing Ben Waghorn and Toby Cousins, wing Alex Wills, as well as replacements James Halliwell, Finn Carnduff and Zach Carr, will seek to impart their experience on the newly-introduced members of the U20 pathway.

Head coach Mapletoft and assistant coach Titterrell also welcome non-EPS members to the fold for this weekend’s action; Bath Rugby hooker Scott Kirk, scrum halves Ben Douglas (Newcastle Falcons) and Max Blinkhorn (Nottingham University), Junior Kpoku of Racing 92 and Newcastle centre, Ollie Spencer.

The U20 EPS for 2024 travelled abroad for a maiden warm-weather training camp at Browns Sports Resort in Portugal last month before three days of gym sessions, unit work and on-field training at Bisham Abbey this week.

Nathan Catt also links up with the coaching staff for his first matchday since joining the RFU as the designated pathway scrum coach, facing his former club where he headed up the club’s academy line from Beechen Cliff to the Recreation Ground.

The U20 Men took on Loughborough University and Oxford University in preparation for the 2023 U20 Six Nations and continue the tradition with a rematch with the former next Saturday (13 January, tickets available here) before their first Six Nations tie with Italy on 2 February.

England U20 Men’s head coach Mark Mapletoft said: “It’s been a real pleasure to bring this new cohort together over the last week, the boys have showcased a real intent on proving themselves in a game capacity for the first time.

“Our training regime has reflected the intensity we want to arrive with in Saturday’s game with Bath. We know Bath’s capabilities in producing some of the country’s best talent, so this weekend’s meeting is a suitable one for our boys.

“Myself, Andy and the rest of the coaching staff expect a really competitive 80 minutes at Shaftesbury Park. The boys are aware that the U20 Six Nations awaits in a few weeks, but our focus remains on attaining a positive performance on Saturday afternoon.”

A ticket bundle for England U20 Men’s home U20 Six Nations fixtures at the Rec against Wales and Ireland can be purchased here.

England U20 Men's side to face Bath Rugby
1 Cameron Miell (Leicester Tigers)
2 Craig Wright (Northampton Saints) *
3 Billy Sela (Bath Rugby)
4 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens)
5 Joe Bailey (Exeter Chiefs) *
6 Nathan Michelow (C) (Saracens) *
7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
8 Lucas Schmid (Harlequins)
9 Ben Douglas (Newcastle Falcons)
10 Rory Taylor (Gloucester Rugby)
11 Sean Kerr (Harlequins)
12 Ben Waghorn (Harlequins) *
13 Toby Cousins (Northampton Saints) *
14 Alex Wills (Sale Sharks) *
15 Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons)


Replacements
16 Scott Kirk (Bath Rugby)
17 Jacob Oliver (Newcastle Falcons)
18 James Halliwell (Bristol Bears) *
19 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92)
20 Finn Carnduff (Leicester Tigers) *
21 Zach Carr (Harlequins) *
22 Max Blinkhorn (Nottingham University)
23 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins)
24 Ollie Spencer (Newcastle Falcons)
25 Will Glister (Northampton Saints)
26 Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby)

[Mellsblue]

Interesting:
19 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92)
&
22 Max Blinkhorn (Nottingham University)

What’s the drill with Blinkhorn? Ex LI, Wuss or Wasps who decided to go rogue or just an outlier?

[Mellsblue]

Interesting:
19 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92)
&
22 Max Blinkhorn (Nottingham University)

What’s the drill with Blinkhorn? Ex LI, Wuss or Wasps who decided to go rogue or just an outlier?

I decided to not be too lazy and I see he was ex Midlands Central Academy so therefore also ex Wasps?

[FKAS]

Worcester academy then into Midlands academy. Presumably went off to Uni when it all went wrong but has been playing well enough in the BUCS league to keep the under 20s coaches interested.

[Mellsblue]

Weird that he ended up playing for Midlands Central Academy.
I had managed to surmise that he ‘went off to Uni when it all went wrong but has been playing well enough in the BUCS league to keep the under 20s coaches interested’ given he’s listed as playing for Nottingham Uni and has been selected by the under 20 coaches to play for the under 20s.

[Puja]

I had thought Miell was a tighthead prop? Was I mistaken or can he go both sides?

Puja

[fivepointer]

Like the fact that a lad at Uni has been selected. There must be plenty of good players in the BUCS system that should be under consideration.

Also, very good that Kpoku is involved.

[Captainhaircut]

Heard that Fasogbon has had a serious injury and not involved here. Is it just a rumour or have I missed it?

[Epaminondas Pules]

I had thought Miell was a tighthead prop? Was I mistaken or can he go both sides?

Puja

Played predominantly at loosehead at schools level, though he has played both, and 8, and 6

[Which Tyler]

Report from COML

Richards and Baylis outstanding in the first half McConnachie was off at about 30 with a cut head but was back second half till subbed.
Austen Emmens at 15 was excellent in attack and defence and Max Wright and Hennessy were good in the centre though LH had a wobbly first 5 mins, scored in the first half.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Final score England 33 v 42 Bath United

Was 7 v 28 at half time.

[Which Tyler]

Slightly more proper (but still biased) match report
https://www.bathrugby.com/content/match ... ath-united

[Banquo]

Verden, Richards and Merigan have all played for us in the last month, all top lads.

[fivepointer]

A few tweaks for this weekends game.

England U20s team vs Oxford University - Saturday 2:00pm

1 Cameron Miell (Leicester Tigers)
2 Craig Wright (Northampton Saints)
3 Billy Sela (Bath Rugby)
4 Olamide Sodeke (Saracens)
5 Junior Kpoku (Racing 92)
6 Finn Carnduff (capt) (Leicester Tigers)
7 Henry Pollock (Northampton Saints)
8 Zach Carr (Harlequins)

9 Ben Douglas (Newcastle Falcons)
10 Rory Taylor (Gloucester Rugby)
11 Ben Redshaw (Newcastle Falcons)
12 Sean Kerr (Harlequins)
13 Ben Waghorn (Harlequins)
14 Toby Cousins (Northampton Saints)
15 Ioan Jones (Gloucester Rugby)

Subs:
16 Jacob Oliver (Newcastle Falcons)
17 Scott Kirk (Bath Rugby)
18 James Halliwell (Bristol Bears) *
19 Joe Bailey (Exeter Chiefs) *
20 Jack Bennett (Bath Rugby)
21 Max Blinkhorn (Nottingham University)
22 Kane James (Exeter Chiefs)
23 Josh Bellamy (Harlequins)
24 Malelili Satala (Leicester Tigers)
25 Ollie Spencer (Newcastle Falcons)

[Banquo]

Interesting this- is Pollock better off playing for England U20's v Oxford Uni (who the u20's should batter), than on a proper development loan to a champ or even prem club?

[FKAS]

Interesting this- is Pollock better off playing for England U20's v Oxford Uni (who the u20's should batter), than on a proper development loan to a champ or even prem club?

Need to build the under 20 squad cohesion ahead of the 6N. He's going to be central to that so surely he needs to be involved.

[Banquo]

Interesting this- is Pollock better off playing for England U20's v Oxford Uni (who the u20's should batter), than on a proper development loan to a champ or even prem club?

Need to build the under 20 squad cohesion ahead of the 6N. He's going to be central to that so surely he needs to be involved.

...unless he's ready to make the step up to adult rugby.

[Mellsblue]

It really depends on whether u20 6N is viewed as win at all costs or a development tool. Traditionally it’s been used as the latter with greater emphasis on winning at the World Cup.

[FKAS]

Interesting this- is Pollock better off playing for England U20's v Oxford Uni (who the u20's should batter), than on a proper development loan to a champ or even prem club?

Need to build the under 20 squad cohesion ahead of the 6N. He's going to be central to that so surely he needs to be involved.

...unless he's ready to make the step up to adult rugby.

He's not going to get in Saints side this weekend so might as well play with the under 20s. I appreciate he's been getting good experience in the Championship but training with a cross section of the best young talent from the Prem might well be a useful development opportunity for him. Exposing him to different characters, ways to approach the game etc.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Usually Prem / Europe comes first, U20 second, loans / Champ 3rd.

[Epaminondas Pules]

It really depends on whether u20 6N is viewed as win at all costs or a development tool. Traditionally it’s been used as the latter with greater emphasis on winning at the World Cup.

It is largely development, leading into the JWC which is more important, and a chance to look at some wider players as some of the first choice will be wanted by their clubs.

[Which Tyler]

...unless he's ready to make the step up to adult rugby.

This year at least, we don't have to pick and choose. There's no clashes between club and country (well, 1 match for the training camp).
Being in the U20s has a value of its own as well, in terms of seeing how a player copes in a different system with players and plays they're less familiar with.

ETA: Sorry, of course we were talking about matches on loan to the championship - that's always come behind Eng U20 in the pecking order.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Heard that Fasogbon has had a serious injury and not involved here. Is it just a rumour or have I missed it?

Ankle I believe. Might be back by March / April.

[Banquo]

Usually Prem / Europe comes first, U20 second, loans / Champ 3rd.

...that's what I was questioning, is that the right pecking order, not what the pecking order is.

[Epaminondas Pules]

Usually Prem / Europe comes first, U20 second, loans / Champ 3rd.

...that's what I was questioning, is that the right pecking order, not what the pecking order is.

There's an argument on both being as important. Game time, familiarity within champ / nat club, combined with playing against non-peers for (probably) the first time, but also that short turn around competitive cohesion required at international level in meaningful contests. The JWC certainly, but the U20 6 Nations is a good standard for these lads to learn in. There's the transition into adult rugby,. and also the next level of international rugby. I think both matter. Which has some splinters in the fence sitting.

I suppose them being loaned to champ / nat clubs, then coming out into the international fold (albeit U20s) then back to club is exactly what will happen IF they take the next step. That context switching familiarity and unfamiliaroty of environment.